German Fernandez after breaking US HS 2-mile record

It seems like every year the talent that is recruited by collegiate programs nationwide grows deeper and deeper. This year we have frosh phenom, German Fernandez from Oklahoma State. Many know him as the wiry kid from California who just last year destroyed the national HS 3200m record by 7 seconds, running 8:34 (4:17 mile, about 7:57 through the 3k). He came back in the 1600 to run 4:00.29 (all in a day’s work). Heading into college, there’s generally a transition period – which Fernandez seemed to experience during cross country (a DNF at the Div I NCAA XC Championships) – but I’m not sure anybody could have predicted how quickly he settled down at Oklahoma State. A couple weeks ago, Germany ran the fastest Junior indoor mile ever – 3:56.50 at the Razorback Invite in Arkansas. Just last weekend, he averaged roughly 4:12 a mile in the 3k, to set his 3k PR of 7:47. What people forget though is that nestled right in between the two races, German successfully defended his USATF Junior National XC crown traversing the 8k course in 23:20 [crushing last year’s winning time by a full minute). With all these early times, will German keep resetting the bar? It’s nice to know that these times exceeded even his expectations.

German wasn’t the only record setter at last weekend’s University of Washington Huskies Invite. Colorado’s Jenny Barringer took the 5k from the gun and raced herself the whole way to an NCAA Collegiate record of 15:01. Naturally, only a runner would say, ‘wish I had gotten under 15 minutes’ but Jenny was genuinely surprised with the outcome, expecting – on a good day – she could touch somewhere between 15:15-15:20. Barringer was good in HS, very good, but never dominating. It wasn’t until the University of Colorado and Coach Mark Wetmore that her true potential was realized. Her 15:01 is the second fastest 5k time ever for an American, bested only by Shalane Flanagan’s 14:47 of a couple weeks ago. It’s her second NCAA Record as she holds in record in the 3k Steeplechase with a 9:29, set at the NCAA Championships in June 2008. But what makes her race so special – and I encourage you to go to Flotrack to watch it in its’ entirety – was the fact that she took this race from the gun and when it became a race against the clock, she didn’t back down.

Let’s also not discount what NJ distance runners did this past weekend in NCAA competition – Craig Forys (Colts Neck/Michigan) broke 14 for the first time in 5k, running 13:54. Iona standout and former JFK MOC Champion Mohammed Khadraoui finished in 13:57 – both at the Husky Invite. Ryan Fennelly (though NJ) formerly of La Salle and now part of the Philly Track Club ran 7:59 in the 3k at the BU Valentine Invite. Former Monsignor Donovan star Leah Brogan, now at UPenn, won the 3k at the Virginia Duals in 9:46 while Jimmy Wyner, part of the back to back Mainland MOC XC championship squad, took the mens 3k in 7:59. There were many other former NJ HS standouts in action over Valentine Day Weekend – feel free to add them in the comments.